Moxibustion

Moxa is a cousin of St. John's Wort. The Latin name is artemesia vulgaris, and this is one of the hottest burning herbs. Moxibustion has been used in conjunction with acupuncture since time immemorial. It is very useful in treating painful conditions, because the sensation of heat, which is passed through the needles, underlines the action that the needles are already having. Moxibustion comes in differing qualities and the treatment can be done in several ways: with a stick, (which looks like a cigar!) directly on to the skin, directly on the needles etc, depending on what would be most useful in each case.